Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

[DocG2828]

Hopefully I won't drive you guys crazy with these questions which seem like the same ol' thing...but I wanna be safe since I'm the captaion of my boat with my wife and friends as my mates.<br /><br />First...the boat is an 06 Maxum 1800mx 17.5 bowrider, 135hp, 19 deadrise. We boat on the Ohio river which can go from nearly smooth as glass to quite turbulent after a busy day of boat traffic and/or wind and fast current. <br /><br />One day about a week ago, we were out on a Sat...went out in the morning, very smooth. Came back in the afternoon and the closer to Cincinnati we got, the rougher the water and more traffic. The next day, we went out and the river was CRAZY! We weren't going thru just the occassional wake, the whole river was wave after wave after wave...probably about 4 feet. Usually I'll keep it about 20-25mph and chop thru with some rough slamming but it'll cut thru half the wave and come down some but plenty of time to come back up before the next wave. This past time though, seemed like the waves were too close and I was scared to death I was going to bury the bow...so I just slowed it down. <br /><br />Anyways, I know every boat is different and all conditions are different. Is 19 degrees deadrise decent for slightly rough waters like these considering its a fairly small boat in comparison?<br /><br />Am I just worrying too much? We did anchor for a few, with the bow always upriver to catch the current, but the waves were rocking the boat way too much and I was just waiting for a wave to catch the side when it was tipped down from the last wave. Is the pounding bad for the boat or does it feel much worse than it really is?<br /><br />Is it bad to get caught on a wave and be "surfing" Ideally hit the wave at 45, but with a river and that much traffic, sometimes you just gotta go straight, and I find myself stuck on top of a wave and I'm surfing it. I can yank the wheel to come off, but don't want to do too much sudden maneuvering while in that type of water.<br /><br />Anyways, sorry for the long post...any tips on handling a boat, etc. would be great. I'm learning as I go...but don't know if I should worry this much. I can't imagine there are too many conditions on a river that would be too much for a 17.5' boat.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

I look forward to reading some replies as well. I asked similiar questions here.<br /><br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=015089

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

Deadrise it not as a much of a factor as mass. Typically, the heavier the boat, the nicer it'll ride. 19 degrees is typical, or even steep, for a boat that size. I would doubt a few degrees more would matter much. <br /><br />I don't know what your boating area is like, but if you have a boat that is small, relative to all the other boats out there, that's a good sign that it may be challenging for those waters. Something to think about anyway.<br /><br />Pounding is probably not doing any structural damage but it will cause all the fasteners to loosen and will exacerbate any loose electrical connection issues. You should expect more gelcoat stress cracks over time thsan a boat that is operated with less pounding. Pounding also makes for bad knees and unhappy guests. Without meaning to seem condescending; If it gets bad enough to make you question it, perhaps it is a good sign to slow down.<br /><br />Taking the waves at an angle as you do is a good idea. It effectively lengthens the period and makes them easier to take. There is the danger of getting caught in a trough and rolling though, so don't take them at less than 45 degrees if you can help it. Surfing down a steep wave can be fun but there is a danger of pitch-poling if you stuff the bow in the trough. Keep one hand on the wheel and the other on the throttle for rough conditions. You'll need to throttle up the face of the wave, and back off the gas going down the other side.<br /><br />If you are taking waves beam to at anchor, attach a second line to the rode, about 1.5 boat lengths from the boat, coming from a stern cleat, to turn the bow into the waves. You'll have a wye connection when you are done. This is assuming the current isn't bad enough to force you to anchor facing the current.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

Just my 2 cents worth but I think it always a good idea to take the Coast Guard Aux boating course and also if there are local owners clubs (Maxum, Regal, etc) you can usually get a lot of information about boating in general and your boats in particular from the members.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

Every lake, river or ocean is different but when it gets rough slow down. This is the time when Helm controlled trim tabs are worth their weight in gold.<br /><br />DO NOT SURF DOWN THE FACE OF ANY WAVE. The practice can be deadly when you pitch pole because the bow buried in the wave ahead while the stern wave pushes the stern over top. Instead ride the back side of the wave high enough that you can see over but never go over. This means you have one hand on the wheel and one on the throttle. Swell in the ocean travel about 18 to 20 MPH.<br /><br />Another thing that can happen if you go over the wave and start down the face is you loose steering As your speed pick up your props thrust has very little effect this can lead to your stern being pushed to one side and you find your self sideway on the wave and you brouch. A following sea I think is the most dangerous condition. If you have adjustable trim tabs then take them all the way off.<br /><br />Heading in to a sea slow down but keep enough power on to maintain postive steering.<br />If swells or chop big enough to come over the bow then slow down until you have a bow high condition but not so high you can not see.<br /><br />In open water like the ocean watch ahead, most of the time you can steer around the worst part of the wave and make your ride much smoother. Here again at the peak of the biggest wave reduce power so bow does not bury it the troff of the next wave. At the top when you can see over you can usually add power and steer away from the deepest part of the troff. Can make a big difference.<br /><br />In the short chop in rivers, and streams about all you can do is slow down. Do not pound the boat into the waves. Things break or you hit a log you did not see behind the wave. If you have time and know the forcast find a bend or cove and wait out the worst part. Helm controlled tabs allow you to slow down and still stay high in the water and at a good angle to cut the chop.<br /><br />Coast Guard Aux or U S Power squradons have great classes if you get the long class 13 week or more but the short classes do not cover any thing but the very basics of boat handleing.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

I sit here trying to think of the circumstance's you were facing, and i ask myself that is a deep vee.<br /><br />I guess a few things come to mind, you are aware that a deep vee can ride on top of a 2-3 foot swell if there spacing is not to far apart. Literally said you ride right on top of the chop. <br /><br />Now if you cant ride on the top of the swells and have to pound thourgh the swells id say your in 4-5 foot swells that's dangerous for a novice boater and tedious for any boater.<br /><br /> I have found when i get caught in heavy swells that if i dont have the patience to ride (match the swell speed) i just get off the water.<br /><br />Edit: i just noticed you hae a 17' boat, they dont handle a 3-4 chop to well......... kinda of a fair weather boat..

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

I don't actually try to surf the chop. Just seems like if I'm having a hard time cutting it at an angle...and find myself approaching the swell at maybe a 10 degree angle or so...seems like its hard to get off the top of the swell. <br /><br />Again, I appreciate all the tips. I'm a novice boater but want to be a safe boater. Not looking to do anything stupid. That's why we pulled out of the river on one day it was very very choppy. I'm sure our boat can handle more than I think it can...but I'd rather be safe than sorry right now. Once I get more experience on different type of conditions, I'll feel better about it. <br /><br />Luckily most days the river is pretty calm, except for the occassional big swells from other boats wake. I noticed yesterday if we hit the wakes at about 45, doing about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle where we were on plane and trimmed out, we just cut right through with very little to no pound. <br /><br />One time we tried to hit some swells with the bow pointed up a little more and it almost seemed like we were going to flip it over backwards! Anyways, I'll keep reading the advice posted on this board and keep taking it easy and safe until I start to find what works for this little boat and what is just too much for it. I'll also check into some courses to take to learn more.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Handling Tips/Questions?

DocG, the boating courses are great, and a place to meet follow boaters, and possibly a place to meet an experienced boater who will go with you, on a bad day and give you advice on how to handle your particular boat. practice under different condition, and learning what your particular boat will do. no two boats are exactly alike, in there handling.